Ira Pratt Barney (1811 - 1883)

Born 23 Jan 1811 in Steuben, New York

Ancestors

Died 23 Mar 1883 at age 72 in Wheeler, Steuben, New York, United States

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Biography

Ira was born i23 Jan 1811. He was the son of Jonathan Barney and Polly Aulls. ^[1]

He married Anna Coates (1808-1870) about 1828. He would later, (1874) marry Mahala Hanks.

The 1850 census^[2] shows Jonathan, 73 and wife Mary, 71 living in Wheeler, Steuben, New York, with son Ira P Barney, aged 38 and his wife of Ira, Anna (Coates) Barney, aged 42, as well as Caroline Barney, aged 11, most likely daughter of Ira and Anna. Finally, Orville Thompson, aged 20,. Jonathan's occupation is Farmer as is Ira's and Orville's. Ira, Anna, Caroline and Orville were all born in New York. Jonathan was born in New Hampshire and Mary in Pennsylvania, consistent with earlier information.

Children, TENTATIVELY (Information from unsourced family trees and various census reports):

1. John Rex Barney, 1829-1830
2. Caroline Barney, 1839-
3. Julia Barney, 1848-
4. Frances Barney, 1848-
5. Ellen "Ella" Barney, 1852-

In the 1855 NY State Census,^[3] the household includes Ira, Ann, Mary Barney (Ira's mom), Caroline and Ellen, but no Frances or Julia. They were absent from the 1850 census as well. In that year, they were living with Ira's parents, and there may have been a need to split the family up. There is a timeline that includes the death of Jonathan, Ira's father, in 1851. Depending on his illness, Ira's mom may have required the help and support of Ira, to manage the farm, and Ann to help with the care. For example. Then, in the 1855, his mom is living with them, but I suspect it's the same house, just different head of household. Then Mary Barney, Ira's mom, dies in 1858. So, with death and dying going on within the household, it is understandable that another sibling is caring for these two-year-olds in 1850, and just a bit older in the 1855.

In the 1860 census,^[4] Jonathan's name was listed as J. F. Barney. An edit request has been made. Ira is shown living in Wheeler with his family including wife Ann and children: Candas (another spelling, aka Caroline), aged 21; Ellen, aged 8, Julia and Frances, both aged 11. Are they twins?

In the 1870 census,^[5] he still lived in Wheeler and went by the name of "Pratt". His household included only himself, his wife Ann, and his daughter Ella, now 18.

He married Mahala in 1874 when she was 60 or 61. In one unsourced tree, her name was listed as Mahala Hanks. In the 1875 census for New York State,^[6] we see her mother in the Barney household. Ira and Mahala are both listed as having been born in Steuben County, and her mother Hannah Hanks, aged 73, was born in Albany County. Kate Clark, aged 20, is also in the household, working as a servant. Regarding the Hanks question, we can only assume that Mahala's maiden name was Hanks if we know that her mom is still carrying the surname of Mahala's father. The relative ages of Mahala and Hannah suggest that Hannah was 12 years old when Mahala was born. Perhaps, Mahala is a daughter of Mr. Hanks from a marriage previous to the one with Hannah.

In the 1880 census,^[7] there are two children in the house, one, 15, adopted by Ira, and the other, 17, described as a servant, working on the farm. Neither child appeared in the 1875 census with Ira and Mahala. Their names were Mertie and Charles Jenks respectively. They appear to be the children of Mahala from a previous marriage. Looking at the additional data for the children, we see that Mertie's nativity information is New York, New York, New York, while Charles' is New York, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, suggesting that he had different parents altogether. Also keep in mind that Mahala was about 49-51 years of age with the Jenks children were born.

He is mentioned in his father's will^[8] as being an executor and prime beneficiary along with his mother. His middle name is spelled out.

He passed away in 1883.

Sources

1. ↑ Vital Records from The NEHGS Register. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (Compiled from articles originally published in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register.) subscription may be required
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch, Johnathan Barney, Wheeler, Steuben, New York, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ "New York State Census, 1855," database with images, FamilySearch, Ann Barney in household of Ira P Barney, Wheeler, Steuben, New York, United States; citing p. 9, line #18, family #77, county clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 512,422.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch, J F Barney, 1860.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch, Ann Barney in entry for Pratt Barney, 1870.
6. ↑ "New York State Census, 1875," database with images, FamilySearch, 'Ira P Barney, Wheeler, Steuben, New York, United States; citing p. 8, line 5, State Library, Albany; FHL microfilm 512,429.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch, Ira P Barney, Wheeler, Steuben, New York, United States; citing enumeration district ED 200, sheet 643A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,934.
8. ↑ New York, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999 for Jonathan Barney; Wills, Vol. 005, 1849-1854. subscription may be required

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15156818/ira-barney : accessed 01 May 2022), memorial page for Ira Barney (Jan 1811–23 Mar 1883), Find A Grave: Memorial #15156818, citing Wheeler Cemetery, Wheeler, Steuben County, New York, USA ; Maintained by Robin Cleland (contributor 46612711) .